Randy Recommended DIY Two Part Recipes

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thank you sir, just so concerned about this lately.

You're welcome.

Happy Reefing!

 

[Waldek M.]

I bought anhydrous calcium chloride, but from a different store than usual, and it comes in large lumps. Will it be suitable, or is it better not to use it?
https://sklep-chemland.pl/pl/chlorek-wapnia-bezwodny-95-loba-ekstra-czysty-op-500-g.html

 

[EnterName]

I bought anhydrous calcium chloride, but from a different store than usual, and it comes in large lumps. Will it be suitable, or is it better not to use it?
https://sklep-chemland.pl/pl/chlorek-wapnia-bezwodny-95-loba-ekstra-czysty-op-500-g.html

Most people use the dihydrate which means you will have to perform some calculations to adjust the recipe accordingly.

CaCl2 Anhydrate: 110.98g/mol
CaCl2 Dihydrate: 147.02g/mol

So you need to multiply the amount of dihydrate to use by 0.7549 and will know how much anhydrate to use.

Regarding the purity, I think it's fine, but Randy might chime in to clarify this.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I cannot say if it is adequately pure or not, but the fact that it comes in lumps is not any concern.

 

[Waldek M.]

Nie mogę powiedzieć, czy jest on odpowiednio czysty, czy nie, ale fakt, że występuje w postaci grudek, nie stanowi problemu.

What problem do you see with the cleanliness?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What problem do you see with the cleanliness?

The concern is impurities of other elements, of which certain metals such as copper or zinc could be concerns. It may be perfectly fine.

 

[Waldek M.]

The concern is impurities of other elements, of which certain metals such as copper or zinc could be concerns. It may be perfectly fine.

I understand. On the other hand, has anyone checked, investigated, or found out what purity of reagents is used by the companies selling us their products?

 

[EnterName]

The concern is impurities of other elements, of which certain metals such as copper or zinc could be concerns. It may be perfectly fine.

I understand. On the other hand, has anyone checked, investigated, or found out what purity of reagents is used by the companies selling us their products?

Can be easily checked with an ICP test if you want to know. I think this has been done before, I'm sure you will find something when you look for it.

When I was doing 3-part I ordered pharmaceutical grade ingredients where the analysis included all the elements I was worried about.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I understand. On the other hand, has anyone checked, investigated, or found out what purity of reagents is used by the companies selling us their products?

Often no, which is why I recommend food grade, pharma grade, or ACS reagent grades over random hobby company products.

 

[Waldek M.]

Ok. Thanks

 

[Waldek M.]

Can be easily checked with an ICP test if you want to know. I think this has been done before, I'm sure you will find something when you look for it.

That defeats the purpose, because the cost of an ICP test is several times higher than the price of a new package of calcium chloride.

 

[EnterName]

Can be easily checked with an ICP test if you want to know. I think this has been done before, I'm sure you will find something when you look for it.

That defeats the purpose, because the cost of an ICP test is several times higher than the price of a new package of calcium chloride.

I was referring to this: "On the other hand, has anyone checked, investigated, or found out what purity of reagents is used by the companies selling us their products?"

Some people test their salt mix with ICP (once, not every time). Others have tested bottled bacteria products with Aquabiomics to see what bacteria are actually in those bottles. I could imagine the most common 3-part solutions have been ICP tested by some people, as well.

I think BRS offers pharma grade 3-part chemicals like calcium chloride dihydrate and sodium (bi)carbonate. Food grade should also be easy to get. Companies like Tropic marin cannot cheap out too much on the used chemicals or their products would sooner or later cause issues. I used their original balling products for 5 years, without water changes and had no accumulation of heavy metals or other unwanted substances like copper in my tank. I don't blindly trust the stuff companies recommend doing or using. But there are a few I would trust with their product's purity.